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Is it really cruelty-free?
How to check a product before you buy
By the ACTAsia consumer education team · Updated 26 October 2026. ACTAsia has worked on consumer education in China for twenty years. Registered charity, England and Wales, no. 1127625.
To check a product is cruelty-free, look for an independently certified logo such as the Leaping Bunny, which requires brands to stop animal testing from a fixed date, monitor every supplier and accept independent audits. A drawn bunny or the words “not tested on animals” are not enough on their own. When unsure, search the certifier’s online list.
What does cruelty-free actually mean?
On a product, cruelty-free normally means that neither the finished product nor its ingredients were tested on animals. There is no single legal definition of the phrase in the UK, so the words on their own guarantee very little. A brand can say “we do not test on animals” while its ingredient suppliers do, or while relying on tests carried out years ago.
That is why independent certification matters. A good scheme checks the whole supply chain, not just the brand’s own promise. For everyday cruelty-free habits beyond shopping, see our guide to cruelty-free living tips.
Isn’t animal testing for cosmetics already banned in the UK?
Largely, yes. In 1998 the UK became the first country to ban testing cosmetics on animals, and since 11 March 2013 the EU has banned both testing and the sale of cosmetics tested on animals. But gaps remain. Ingredients can still be tested under chemical safety laws, and brands that sell in countries with different rules may test there. So a product on a UK shelf is not automatically cruelty-free everywhere it is made or sold.
How can I identify certified cruelty-free products?
- Look for a recognised certification logo, not just a drawing of a rabbit or a slogan.
- Check the logo against the certifier’s own online list, because some brands use logos without permission.
- Read the brand’s animal testing policy: look for a fixed cut-off date and supplier checks.
- Check whether the brand is owned by a parent company that still tests, if that matters to you.
- If it is unclear, email the brand and ask whether its suppliers test any ingredients on animals.
Which cruelty-free logos can I trust?
The Leaping Bunny is widely regarded as the gold standard because of three things. The brand commits to a fixed cut-off date, after which no animal testing may happen anywhere in its supply chain. It runs a supplier monitoring system that reaches down to ingredient manufacturers. And it agrees to regular independent audits. Cruelty Free International encourages brands to use 11 March 2013, the date the EU’s full cosmetics ban began, as their cut-off date.
Can a cruelty-free product still contain animal ingredients?
Yes. Cruelty-free is about testing, not ingredients. A Leaping Bunny product can still contain beeswax, lanolin or carmine, a red dye made from insects. If you want no animal ingredients at all, look for vegan certification, ideally alongside the Leaping Bunny.
Are household and pet products tested on animals?
Household products such as washing-up liquid, laundry detergent and surface cleaners are not covered by the cosmetics bans, so some ingredients may still be tested under chemical safety rules. The Leaping Bunny scheme covers household products, so the same logo is the easiest check.
For pet shampoos and grooming products, look for the same certifications. Pet food is regulated differently, so the clearest route is to ask the manufacturer directly about its animal testing policy and whether any feeding studies are carried out in laboratories.
Are there apps to check if a product is cruelty-free?
Several apps let you scan or search products, but they are only as good as their data. The most reliable source is the certifier’s own list: Cruelty Free International publishes searchable details of Leaping Bunny approved brands on its website. If you use a third-party app, check that it draws on certification data rather than brand claims alone.
Does China still test cosmetics on animals?
Much less than it used to, and the change matters for shoppers everywhere. Since 2014, China has not required animal tests for ordinary cosmetics made in China, and on 1 May 2021 it ended mandatory animal testing for imported general cosmetics, such as shampoo, mascara and perfume, where brands provide a safety assessment and a government-issued manufacturing certificate. The UK and France were among the first countries able to issue those certificates.
Some products, known as special cosmetics, such as hair dyes and sunscreens, and products for children, could still require animal tests. In July 2026, China’s National Medical Products Administration extended the exemption to some special cosmetics and to general cosmetics with new ingredients, excluding children’s products. ACTAsia welcomed the 2021 change as a milestone it had long championed in Asia.
Why Asia matters for cruelty-free shopping
China is now one of the world’s biggest beauty markets, so what its shoppers expect shapes how global brands behave. As more Chinese consumers ask for cruelty-free products, brands have a stronger reason to drop animal testing altogether. ACTAsia, an Asian-founded and Asian-led charity, has spent twenty years helping consumers in China understand the choices behind everyday products, from food and fashion to the things on their bathroom shelf.
ACTAsia’s view. Laws have done much of the heavy lifting, but they only reach as far as their borders. Shoppers reach further. Every time someone checks a logo or asks a brand a question, they send a signal across a global supply chain. Teaching people to ask that question is how cruelty-free becomes the norm, in Asia and everywhere.
Related reading
What counts as animal cruelty?
Sources: Cruelty Free International (Leaping Bunny standard); The Vegan Society; China NMPA via ChemLinked (2021 and July 2026 rules); ACTAsia news (May 2021); European Commission (2013 ban)]
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a product is certified cruelty-free?
Look for an independent certification logo such as the Leaping Bunny or the Vegan Trademark, then confirm the brand appears on the certifier’s own online list. A drawn bunny or the phrase “not tested on animals” is not independently checked, so treat it with caution.
What is the most trusted cruelty-free logo?
The Leaping Bunny, run by Cruelty Free International, is widely seen as the gold standard. Brands must stop animal testing from a fixed cut-off date, monitor every supplier down to ingredient manufacturers, and accept regular independent audits. It covers cosmetics, personal care and household products.
Is animal testing for cosmetics banned in the UK?
Yes. The UK banned testing cosmetics on animals in 1998, the first country to do so, and the EU has banned the testing and sale of animal-tested cosmetics since March 2013. Some ingredients can still be tested under chemical safety laws, so certification remains useful.
Does China still require animal testing for cosmetics?
Mostly not. China ended mandatory animal testing for imported general cosmetics on 1 May 2021, where brands provide safety assessments and manufacturing certificates. Some special cosmetics and children’s products could still require tests, though rules were relaxed further in July 2026.
Can a cruelty-free product contain animal ingredients?
Yes. Cruelty-free refers to animal testing, not ingredients, so a certified cruelty-free product may still contain beeswax, lanolin or carmine. If you want no animal ingredients at all, look for vegan certification, ideally alongside a cruelty-free logo such as the Leaping Bunny.
Are there apps to check if a product is cruelty-free?
Several apps let you scan or search products, but their accuracy varies. The most reliable source is the certifier’s own list, such as Cruelty Free International’s searchable list of Leaping Bunny brands. Check that any app uses certification data rather than brand claims.
Are household cleaning products tested on animals?
Some ingredients in household products can still be tested under chemical safety rules, because cosmetics bans do not cover them. The Leaping Bunny certification includes household products, so looking for that logo is the simplest way to choose cruelty-free cleaners.
What is ACTAsia doing about animal testing?
ACTAsia, an Asian-founded charity, educates consumers in China about the choices behind everyday products, including cosmetics. It welcomed China’s 2021 decision to end mandatory animal testing for imported general cosmetics as a milestone it had long championed in Asia.
Education is urgent. Behaviour is learnt. A minute spent checking a label is a small habit that changes what the whole industry makes. Support compassionate consumer education.
